Find out about International Women’s Day 2025 (IWD2025), some of the many events and activities taking place in Newcastle and the resources available for everyone to be able to join in and support action that promotes gender equality.
IWD2025 will take place on Saturday 8 March. The theme chosen by the United Nations this year is For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment. You can read more from the United Nations here.
International Women’s Day 2025
Accelerate Action is a worldwide call to acknowledge strategies, resources, and activity that positively impact women’s advancement and elevate their implementation.
Significant barriers to gender equality remain, yet with the right action and support, positive progress can be made for women everywhere.
Visit the IWD2025 website here to find out more and access resources, information and toolkits to help Accelerate Action on and around this year’s International Women’s Day
IWD2025 events and activities in Newcastle
Below are some of the activities that are taking place in the city or online around IWD2025.
Let Afghan Girls Learn – webinar, recording and resource pack
12-1pm on 3 March online (recording available afterwards). Free for schools and groups (for ages 14-18 year olds). Join girls and young women from Afghanistan and the UK for this extraordinary opportunity to share the experiences of Afghan girls, their fight for education and what pupils in the UK can do to support them. Express Yourself: North East Festival of Languages is hosting this UK-wide webinar, developed in association with The Maiden Factor and the Women’s Rights Network Afghanistan. There is a resource pack available to download here. A recording will be available to schools who register before the end of March). Click here to find out more and register.
International Women’s Day Breakfast – Inspiring Women of the North East
8.30-11.30am on 3 March at Hilton Hotel, Gateshead (Sold Out): Smart Works Newcastle annual International Women’s Day Networking Breakfast and Fundraising Event highlighting the amazing things that women are already achieving in this region and inspiring those just starting out in their careers. Panellists include Zoe Rutter (Founder of La Chocolatrice), Surbhi Vedhara (Managing Partner Sweeney Miller Law), Zoe Hingston (Head of EDI at Newcastle University) and Nic Greenan (CEO of Tyneside Cinema).
Rupture (Open Clasp Theatre)
5-8th March at Live Theatre, Newcastle (£15, Concs £12): Created alongside women from HMP Low Newton, Rupture is a powerful play exploring the experience of mothers in prison. Based on true-life experiences, and brought to the Live Theatre stage by award-winning company Open Clasp Theatre. On 7th March the performance will be followed by a panel discussion chaired by Rupture writer and Artistic Director of Open Clasp Catrina McHugh MBE, and featuring industry experts working with women in the Criminal Justice System. Tickets and more information
INSIGHTS Public Lecture: The long march to women and children’s rights
5.30pm on 6 March at Newcastle University (free but booking required): Join Dr Carol Homden, CEO of Coram, the first and longest-serving children’s charity in the UK for this INSIGHTS public lecture. She will be exploring the struggle for a just and equitable society by utilizing the new Coram Digital Archive, and setting out the steps still needed to honour the rights of both women and children. Click here to book
Northumbria University – Gendered Violence and Abuse Conference 2025
9am-5pm on 6 March at Great Hall, Sutherland Building, Northumbria University, City Campus, Newcastle, NE1 8ST (Sold Out): This interdisciplinary conference will focus on how to overcome the challenges and complexities of changing public and professional perceptions of gendered violence and abuse. The topic is complex and multifaceted, influenced by cultural, social, and economic factors. Despite a growing awareness and concern about gendered violence and abuse, changing public and professional perceptions that lead to better outcomes for victim-survivors remains slow. Get your free ticket here
Catch 22 webinar: The Importance of Unplugging Digital Skills Amongst Women and Girls
12.00-1.15pm on 6 March – Online: This event will bring together leading employability delivery organisations and industry experts to discuss the digital skills gap, gender disparity in tech careers, and ways to empower women and girls into digital and technology roles. The event will highlight the success of the TechUp Women programme, delivered in partnership with the Institute of Coding and Durham University, and provide an opportunity to network with like-minded professionals. Sign up here
‘A Story of Hope’ women’s art display by Her Circle and Harriet Mee
6-31 March 2025 at Newcastle Cathedral (free): Her Circle brings a collection of written, visual and digital artwork to Newcastle Cathedral this March, in celebration of IWD. Remaining on display throughout the month, each piece of artwork produced by Her Circle and Harriet Mee explores themes of trauma, resilience and hope. More information here
Women and Child Removal: A Story of Hope
2-4pm on 6th March at Newcastle Cathedral (free): The event will celebrate women’s recovery from child removal through visual and written art, highlighting the voices of those who have experienced this journey. In addition to the women’s narratives, speakers will provide insights into the broader context within our region. The event aims to illuminate the realities of child removal in our area and explore the avenues through which women achieve recovery. Click here to book
Celebration of Radical Women of Romanticism
6-8pm on 6th March at The Lit & Phil (Sold Out): Marking the 200th anniversary of the death of English poet and author Anna Laetitia Barbauld, The Lit & Phil is hosting a Celebration of Radical Women in Romanticism this March. You’ll hear about the ground breaking work that writers like Barbauld and Mary Wollstonecraft achieved in their time, as well as those often overlooked by history, despite their monumental contributions to conversations about female agency and human rights. More information here
Celebrating inspirational women in Newcastle
12.30-3.30pm on 7th March at Newcastle Civic Centre: Newcastle City Council is hosting an event to celebrate inspirational women, raise awareness about gender equality and to honour the women shaping our city and making a difference in our communities. Nominations were sent in and a booklet celebrating these women will be published. Find out more
IWD Data Science Event 2025
7 March at National Innovation Centre for Data, Newcastle (Sold Out): The National Innovation Centre for Data will again be hosting their annual Data Science event for IWD 2025. This free to attend event will see attendees gain hands-on, practical skills and knowledge around data science, with help from experts Dr Antonia Kontaratou, Louise Braithwaite MSc and Dr Georgia Atkinson.
Women Writing Up North
11am-1pm on 8 March at Newcastle City Library (free but booking required): Six local writers will share their journeys for budding readers/authors to ask their burning questions. Helen Aitchison, Elaine Gardner, Brigid Griffin, Mirabel Lavelle, Ellie White and Dawn Wilkinson will be present to help women get into writing, short readings and host the Q&A session. Click here to book
‘Deeds, Not Words’ A Walking Tour – How Women Won The Vote (And The Part Newcastle upon Tyne Played In It)
11am on 8 March 8, meet at Grey’s Monument Newcastle NE1 5AF (£15 adults, £5 children): 90 minute walking tour. Step back 100 years and explore the inspiring stories of the brave, resilient women who played pivotal roles in the fight for British suffrage. Walk through the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne and discover the remarkable contributions of local women to this historic movement. Click here to book
365 Days of the Girls, Theys and Slays
6.30pm on 8 March at Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle (£10, £5 concessions or £3): Community choir The Girls, Theys & Slays celebrate their first birthday at Alphabetti Theatre, and we’re all invited to join the party! The group – comprised of North East women and non-binary folk – will be belting tunes from the likes of ABBA, Billie Eilish, The Beatles and Ariana Grande, so they’ll definitely be something for everyone here. Click here to book
Young Women’s Film Academy Presents: Bend It Like Beckham
5.30pm on 8 March at Tyneside Cinema (prices vary): The Young Women’s Film Academy present a screening of Gurinder Chada’s beloved 2002 comedy Bend It Like Beckham, preceded by two short films made by the Academy: Zara and Who We Are. Find out more and book
Side By Side – All Female Takeover
11pm-3am on 8 March at The Social Club in Newcastle for their Side by Side event. Expect to hear house and tech house tunes on the decks throughout the night from their all female takeover event. Book tickets here
International Women’s Day Newcastle – Candlelit Vigil at Grey’s Monument
6pm on Sunday 9 March at Grey’s Monument, 150 Grainger Street, Newcastle, NE1 5AF: Join Women’s Street Watch Newcastle on Sunday, the day after International Women’s Day, to light a candle for all the women murdered by men in 2024. No booking required.
Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland – Breaking the Barriers
2.00-4.30pm on 14 March at Hope Street Xchange, 1-3 Hind Street, Sunderland, SR1 3QD (free): Join Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland for Breaking the Barriers, a powerful event of reflection and discussion to explore how to better support survivors of sexual violence. This event is free to attend. Secure your place here
West End Women and Girls Centre – The Women’s Library
Every Wednesday 9.30-11.30am (term time only), West End Women and Girls Centre, The Stephenson Building, 173 Elswick Road, Newcastle, NE4 6SQ: West End Women and Girls Centre has opened a new Women’s Library where you can read, relax, and borrow your next book. You can also become more confident at reading with the assistance of their reading buddies. Find out more here